You have no doubt heard that state funding for higher education in Colorado has taken a hit in the last few years. But you might be surprised to learn that, by at least one measure, the spending cuts are the largest in the nation.

As Boulder’s Daily Camera reported earlier this week, Colorado slashed per-student funding for major public research universities 48.3 percent between 2002 and 2010 — cuts thar are the most drastic in the nation, according to a report from the National Science Board.

Just as concerning is the report’s finding that between 1999 and 2009, the share of global research and development held by the U.S. dropped from 38 to 31 percent while it increased in the Asian region from 24 to 35 percent. Both trends must be reversed.

To be a leader in this century, Colorado and America must be willing to invest more in higher education and our research institutions.

What about your victims? Facing 15 years in prison on charges stemming from a three-year stint of imposing his sexual appetite on employees in his office, former 7th Judicial District Attorney Myrl Serra got off easy this week. A judge on Thursday sentenced him to less than a year in lockup and four years’ probation. While the sentencing is debatable, his conduct is nothing short of shameful.

Serra apologized to the judge for hair that had grown long while he was incarcerated, but didn’t utter a word that approached an apology for victims of his crimes. Afterward, in an interview with The Denver Post’s Nancy Lofholm, Serra summed up his behavior thusly: “Am I a pig? Yes.” Given his unwillingness to own up to his actions, that sentiment is an insult to swine.

Too hot for school. While he had previously expressed hope to see them push back the start of the school year to September, we were pleased this week to see the Denver Public Schools board of education make some progress addressing the issue of heat-plagued schools in August. The board on Thursday approved a calendar that pushes the first day of school to Aug. 27 — following the current school year’s mid-August start that coincided with a heat wave.

The cost of installing air conditioning in all DPS schools is substantial — $400 million by one estimate. Given financial needs elsewhere, it makes sense to look for less-costly alternatives.

Superintendent Tom Boasberg has been asked to craft a policy recommendation for the board that would call for “heat days,” where school would be cancelled as it would on a snow day. That strikes us a a sensible first step.

Short Takes is compiled by Denver Post editorial writers and expresses the view of the newspaper’s editorial board.

Many were not surprised by the prompt verdict Monday in the sexual-assault case in Denver involving Taylor Swift. A jury of six women and two men concluded within hours that a Denver radio host had groped Swift _ grabbed her butt beneath her skirt during a photo shoot, as his wife stood on the other side of Swift.

Touch not that statue of Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville. Let it stand, but around it place plaques telling the curious that the man was a traitor to his country who went to war so white people could continue to own black people.